Reviewed by Emily Lucas

Luke's CV is certainly impressive for someone who's only 12. He was in three films alone in 2008, has shot commercials for McDonald's, Nintendo and American Express, and has just signed a production deal with In Crowd Productions (the folk behind Hilary Duff and the Backstreet Boys) of which this EP is the first result. First impressions of Luke's CD leads one to wonder what it would sound like if Avril Lavigne became a Christian and got the lead role in High School Musical. Luke's upbeat, poppy sound is certainly catchy and his cute, squeaky clean look completes his pop prince image. What is refreshing and encouraging from such a young artist is his unashamed lyrics that declare the greatness of God and the joy of a life walking with him. The opener "Get Up" sets a precedent that the rest of the EP struggles to live up to. It is a contagious song that you will be singing for days to come. "Let Your Love Out" is a must have on any road trip play list, and the synth on this track are a welcome addition. The upbeat tracks "Higher Love" and "Shine" show Benward's debut as an engaging chunk of teen pop a bit like the "old" Jump5.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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